[Current profile of HIV-infected patients hospitalized in Dakar (Senegal)]

Ten years after the introduction of the Senegalese Antiretroviral Drug Access Initiative in 1998, we conducted a retrospective study of the epidemiological and clinical profiles and outcome of HIV-infected patients hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Clinic of Fann Teaching Hospital in Dakar between 2007 and 2008. During these 2 years, 527 HIV-positive patients were included. The average age of the patients was 41 ± 10 years, and the sex-ratio (F/M) was 1.1; 56% of patients were married. The average interval before admission was 40 ± 57 days. Fever (83%), loss of weight (83%) and cough (54%) were the principal symptoms. Tuberculosis (40.9%) and gastrointestinal candidiasis (38.9%) were the commonest opportunistic infections. Most patients were diagnosed at the AIDS stage (88%) and the CD4+ T lymphocyte count was ≤ 200/mm3 in 86% of cases. Hospital fatality was 44% (231/527). Tuberculosis (36%), bacterial pneumonia (18%) and encephalitis (12%) were the most frequent causes of death. Despite the availability of and free access to antiretroviral drugs in Senegal, the mortality associated with HIV infection remains very high due to late diagnosis. The population must be educated to boost early screening and care.